3:22 PM: The “heavy rescue” call at 4th Ave. South/South Spokane St. right now is described by Seattle Fire as a rescue involving a “bicyclist trapped underneath a semitruck.” That’s all we know right now – avoid the area; updates as we get them.

3:35 PM: The bicyclist has been extricated from under the truck, according to the scanner, and is described as a 26-year-old man, conscious with injuries including significant “abrasions” after being dragged for a distance. Medics are rushing him to Harborview Medical Center.

4:24 PM: Couldn’t figure out from other sources how traffic was being affected, so we’re now here at the scene. Westbound Spokane is closed at 4th – this happened on Spokane, under the bridge, just west of Spokane. Southbound 4th is closed at Spokane but just as we arrived, scanner discussion suggested they hope to reopen that section at least part of the way soon. Northbound 4th and eastbound Spokane are unaffected – that includes the ramp from the eastbound bridge.

4:38 PM: Traffic Collision Investigation Squad investigators (photo above) are on scene, so that one section of road, westbound Spokane west of 4th, is likely to be closed a while. Though southbound 4th has reopened, police are still on the right side, and it’s moving slowly right now, so we would still advise an alternate route. We’re on 1st now and it is moving at a normal pace.

6:55 PM: SDOT tweets that the intersection is open again in all directions. SPD’s early summary of the collision says the rider was in stable condition when hospitalized.

20 Comments

every time i hear of an accident involving a cyclist and this general location, i hold my breath. i stopped cycling to and from west seattle years ago. i had had enough of the close calls. i hope everyone involved in this accident comes out of it ok. my thoughts will be focused on a positive outcome for the rest of the afternoon.

there’s mixed info here – motorcyclist in the title, but bicyclist in the text. hopefully this ambiguity will get clarified later. either way this sounds horrible and as a bicyclist myself hope for their rapid recovery.

I apologize, our body text was correct but the headline was wrong, fixed now. It’s always been reported as a bicyclist. We couldn’t get clear traffic-effect info from any source so we’re here at the scene now – which is why I didn’t notice the error sooner, have been offline while we headed this way – and just added an explanation of what part of the road is affected – bottom line, westbound Spokane is blocked just west of 4th. Will add a photo shortly; I’m across the street from the investigation scene while co-publisher Patrick Sand is across 4th checking out the scene and talking to authorities. At least one TV crew is here as well. – Tracy

I ride 5 times a week for around 15 hours a week. I still haven’t found a route from West Seattle to Downtown that feels safe to me. I generally circle West Seattle rather than trying to navigate out to the rest of Seattle.

We really need an improved cycling corridor from West Seattle to Downtown and beyond.

That’s what we reported above. They didn’t even think – on initial check – that he had broken bones. But you can’t assume until somebody gets to the hospital and is checked out. I hope that it is what it sounds like so far, pretty miraculous. The bicycle can still be seen beneath the front of the truck. The initial medical discussion included a report that he might have been dragged 25 feet before the truck, which was apparently turning onto 4th, stopped. – TR

So horrible. Any updates on efforts to improve biking conditions for West Seattle commuters, and/or ways we can get involved to help? With all the construction going on in the area (now indefinitely…) it certainly seems like safer options for cyclists need to be put in place.

Scary scary stuff. Lots of healing thoughts to the rider. I just can’t get comfortable with the idea of riding even in bike lanes to my office on East Marginal, even with the South Park Bridge open I just don’t feel comfortable negotiating Highland Park Way and E/W Marginal. These reports are getting too common in our corridor.

Michelle R-R, I would recommend getting involved with West Seattle Bike Connections, which I believe like most community groups has a core of dedicated volunteers who could ALWAYS ALWAYS use more help. Their meetings are listed at http://westseattlebikeconnections.org which also has updates on WS-and-vicinity issues, successes, concerns … TR

Michelle R-R, Right now, our thoughts are with the person who was injured, and his loved ones. But tomorrow evening if you can stop by the Junction Park for Junction Neighborhood “Night Out”, West Seattle Bike Connections will be there. We’d be happy to offer you ways to get involved in improving safety for all users of West Seattle and SODO streets.

SO glad to hear the cyclist will likely recover and isn’t hurt too bad! Totally with y’all, we need a safer corridor to downtown. Both East Marginal and 1st Ave have issues. Sometimes I really miss Holland.

Does anyone know if the cause or fault of the fatal semi-cyclist accident that occurred last year on East Marginal Way and Hanford was determined? I ride through that intersection almost every weekday and wonder what happened.

While this incident is awful and scary, I want to add that I’ve ridden for many years around West Seattle and commuted via bike to SODO, South Park, and even Bellevue (bike plus bus). I consider it reasonably safe. Granted I’ve got a lot of experience under my belt. Judging from some of the comments, some cyclists may not know best routes for commuting. I’ve always ridden the safest routes rather than the shortest routes. While longer, the safest routes are generally more scenic and always less stressful. I second the motion for people to connect with WEST SEATTLE BIKE CONNECTIONS. I recently went to one of their events and they guided me from the Junction to White Center on a very safe bike route I’d never considered.

agree above with I. Ponder, WSBC is a really good resource for safe cycling around the region. I am part of that team myself and will do anything to help get us there safely. WSB no need to apologize about the title – really it was a shocking incident and whether motorbike rider or bicyclist still hard to comprehend. Hope less of this kind of shocking incident happens in the future. Safety first!

I am so happy to hear this cyclist does not have any life threatening injuries. That is truly amazing!

Although I don’t know the circumstances around this particular accident, I do commute by bike through that intersection daily. Cars often have trouble seeing the cyclists here because of the supports for the West Seattle Bridge. Sight lines are just not very good in that area.

I agree with I. Ponder. I’ve been riding to work (WS to Downtown Seattle) all year round since February of 2000. I miss approximately 6 weeks a year due to vacations and snow. I too consider it reasonably safe as long as you keep a safe speed, make eye contact, have front/rear lights on at all times, ride with bright clothing, and most important obey the laws.
I avoid the intersection of the accident. I turn east off Avalon down Genesee and head for Delridge.
Just this morning I was stopped at a light under the viaduct and a biker came zipping past me through the red light. Those are the ones that scare me…..and the cars.